Paoli, PA 8/25/05; Huntingdon, UK 8/25/05 -- AMETEK has agreed to
acquire the Solartron Group from Roxboro Group for approximately 42
million [pounds sterling] ($75 million) in cash. Solarton has annual
sales of 27 million [pounds sterling] ($50 million) and is comprised of
three companies: Solartron Analytical makes analytic measurement
instruments and software for the characterization of materials that are
used for electrochemistry, corrosion analysis and advanced materials analysis; Solartron Metrology manufactures digital and analog gauging
probes, displacement transducers and associated instrumentation used
primarily to measure the size and form of machined or fabricated parts;
Solartron ISA designs and manufactures flow measurement devices for the
oil and gas industry. "Solartron is composed of an excellent set of
differentiated, niche-focused businesses that fit nicely with several of
our current process and analytical instrument businesses," said
AMETEK Chairman and CEO Frank S. Hermance. Solartron will join
AMETEK's Electronic Instruments Group. AMETEK stated that Solartron
Analytical fits with its Princeton Applied Research unit (see IBO 1/15/02), Solartron Metrology complements its Taylor Hobson unit (see
IBO 6/30/04), and Solartron ISA adds to its oil and gas instrument
business.

The Solartron Group's senior management will stay with the
company, including director Allan Imrie. In 2004, the Solartron Group,
excluding Solartron Analytical, posted sales of 16.5 million [pounds
sterling] ($30.5 million), a gross profit of 6.8 million [pounds
sterling] ($12.6 million) and an operating profit of 3.1 million [pounds
sterling] ($5.7 million). Solartron Analytical had been a product line
of Roxboro's Mobrey Companies, makers of process measurement and
control equipment, which was sold to Emerson in July for 26.0 million
[pounds sterling] ($48.1 million). In 2004, Solartron Analytical
recorded 8.5 million [pounds sterling] ($15.7 million) in sales and a
gross profit of 3.7 million ($6.9 million).

COPYRIGHT 2005 Strategic Directions International Inc. (SDI)
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.